Unlike a standard choir concert, the singers themselves form the branches of the tree.

How a Jackson Tradition Took Root

The first Singing Christmas Tree dates to 1933, when Belhaven music professor Mignonne Caldwell arranged an all-female choir in the shape of a Christmas tree. What began as an informal gathering grew into an outdoor performance for the community.

A college engineer, C.V. McLain, later built a wooden frame for the singers. Caldwell directed the tradition until her retirement in 1962.

Belhaven describes the program as the world’s oldest outdoor singing Christmas tree tradition. More than nine decades after the first performance, it remains a familiar December gathering for Jackson families.

What You’ll See and Hear

The modern structure rises 35 feet and holds up to 100 singers, with lights programmed to follow the music. Students, alumni and community members perform seasonal songs and sacred carols. Snow falls during “White Christmas,” and the second half of the program tells the story of the Nativity through Scripture and carols.

One of the evening’s signature moments comes near the close, when a soloist beneath the star at the top sings “O Holy Night.”

Dr. Rebecca Geihsler-Chittom, chair of Belhaven’s Music Department, described the shared experience in the university’s 2026 announcement: “There’s something special about making music together.”

The concert is expressly Christian in content, although the audience is open to anyone who wants to attend.

How to Plan Your Evening

Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5. The university encourages guests to dress warmly and bring a blanket for the outdoor program. Check Belhaven’s official event page before leaving home for any late weather or arrival updates.

Where to Park

The Belhaven Parking Garage is the most convenient option. Accessible parking is available in the Hood Library Lot, on the immediate left as you enter, and in the Heidelberg Gymnasium Lot, on the side facing the track.

Plenty of Jackson holiday events feature decorations, shopping or music. Belhaven’s tree pairs the lights with live voices, in a tradition that began on a Mississippi college campus.